Repeat upset on Stingrays’ minds in Sheffield

Hull go into Wednesday night’s clash with Sheffield Steelers without a point in Group B after coming off second-best to Nottingham Panthers and Cardiff Devils – the latter defeat on Sunday particularly hard to take as they allowed the Devils to come from three goals down to win 4-3.

But the Stingrays memorably dumped the Steelers out of the play-offs at Ice Sheffield venue two years ago and hope to draw on that triumph for their latest clash between the two at the venue.

“We have had success in that rink before and there is no reason why we cannot again this year. The pressure is all on them,” said Hull player-coach Cloutier, whose wants his team to repeat last year’s progression to the quarter-final stages.

Since that memorable night 18 months ago when Hull defeated Sheffield 5-2 thanks to a Derek Campbell hat-trick – sealing a 7-4 aggregate triumph – Hull have drawn a blank on their three subsequent visits to South Yorkshire.

It will be a very different Steelers team they face-off against this time around, with eight new imports being brought in by head coach Doug Christiansen since he was chosen to replace Ryan Finnerty.

The Steelers had a mixed time in Scotland at the weekend, thrashing Edinburgh Capitals 10-3 before going down 4-3 to early-season pace-setters Dundee Stars on Sunday night.

Christiansen’s men began their Cup campaign with a 4-2 win at Coventry Blaze on the opening night of the season before suffering a painful 4-1 home defeat to Nottingham the following night.

But Cloutier is impressed with the roster put together by his opposite number and expects them to up there challenging for honours on three fronts again this season.

“Sheffield is a big game for us now,” added Cloutier. “They beat Edinburgh 10-3 so they certainly have some firepower – they have the best powerplay in the league and they have a lot of skilled, dangerous guys.

“We must make sure we compete to give ourselves a chance. We snuck through the group last year by beating Cardiff twice and getting a point in Coventry and after losing our first two games we must now try and steal some points on the road.

“We have done it before and we must have the belief in the room that we can go there and get something. We have had success in that rink before and there is no reason why we cannot again this year. The pressure is all on them. They have signed a team to challenge for all the trophies.”

Stingrays will welcome back Canadian defenceman Jeff Smith, who missed the reverse by Cardiff to attend a funeral back home.